Winchester

Winchester's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Winchester increased by 8.7%, from about 107,000 to 117,000.

The addition of just under 9,400 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Winchester was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Winchester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Winchester increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This affluent rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 12% of people in Winchester are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Winchester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Winchester

The percentage of Winchester residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.0% to 2.5% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Winchester residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Winchester, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Winchester, the proportion of private renting increased from 10% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Winchester fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70% to 68%.

Private renting in Winchester increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Winchester, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Winchester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.9% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Winchester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Winchester decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Winchester, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Winchester

The number of people in Winchester from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just over 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Winchester from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 1,100 in 2001 to about 2,600 in 2011 (from 1.0% to 2.3%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 710 to just over 1,600 (from 0.7% to 1.4%).

Just under 460 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 270 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Winchester decreased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Winchester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links